EP0986059A1

EP0986059A1 - Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP0986059A1
Application number: EP99907932A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Keiji Sakamoto; Akio Konishi; Koichiro Hirabayashi; Shigeo Ueda
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
Priority date: 1998-03-16
Filing date: 1999-03-15
Publication date: 2000-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-15
Also published as: DE69933743D1; EP0986059B1; CN1258369A; US6339514B1; JPH11259931A; CN1119803C; WO1999048093A1; DE69933743T2; EP0986059A4; JP3521732B2

Abstract

The invention presents a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus capable of reducing the size and preventing external force from propagating directly to the internal mechanism. To achieve the object, a main arm 26 and a sub-arm 29 are constituted so as not to intersect with a photo detector 31 always during rotating operation within a plane including the photo detector 31, and the dimension can be hence reduced in the width direction of the apparatus, and moreover as the wall thickness of MIC-SW 46 is reduced, the upper end of the MIC-SW 46 is held by a back plate 48, so that the dimension of the apparatus can be reduced also in the depth direction, and further a cassette holder 13 is locked by a clamper 42 to prevent effects from outside when a sub-chassis 19 moves from unloading position to loading position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus for installing a box-shaped cassette in a video cassette recorder (VCR hereinafter), audio cassette recorder, or the like.

BACKGROUND ART

The recent market demands for VCR integrally combined with a camera are diversified, not only reduction in size and weight but also digitization to prevent deterioration of signals. By digitization, the quantity of information is increased by far as compared with the conventional capacity, and the size of cassette incorporating a tape is getting smaller rapidly owing to the progress in the signal compression technology and high density recording technology. On the other hand, the cassettes possessed by users are increasing year after year, and the VCR system capable of retrieving the type of cassette or retrieving the information recorded in the tape easily is being demanded.
As an example to satisfy such market needs, the household digital VCR (DVC hereinafter) conforming to the DV standard is known. In the DVC, a ferromagnetic metal material is applied or evaporated on the tape, and the recording density is enhanced by short wavelength recording. A perspective view showing the appearance of a DVC cassette is given in Fig. 22. At the back side of the DVC cassette, an ID board 102a is provided, and by the resistance value of the circuit board read through a contact type recognition switch (MIC-SW hereinafter) mentioned below, the tape thickness, tape material, and other information can be detected.
A conventional magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus is described below while referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 16 is a plan view of a conventional magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in an unload position, Fig. 17 is a magnified plan view of essential parts of Fig. 16, Fig. 18 is a plan view in a loading completed position, Fig. 19 is a right side view of Fig. 16 in a cassette attaching and detaching position, Fig. 20 is a right side view of Fig. 16 of cassette in a tape loading position, and Fig. 21 is a right side view of Fig. 18.
In Fig. 16 and Fig. 20, a rotary head cylinder 101 is installed in a main chassis 100, and signals are exchanged with a tape (not shown) incorporated in a cassette 102. A sub-chassis 104 is slidably placed on a sub-chassis guide pin 103 set up in the main chassis 100. As shown in Fig. 19, one end of a main arm 106 rotatably supported on a main arm shaft 105 provided in the sub-chassis 104 is slidably engaged with a main arm pin 108 provided at the side of a cassette holder 107 for conveying the cassette 102.
On the other hand, a sub-arm shaft 110 is provided at the side of the cassette holder 107 to which an outer panel 109 is attached to the upper part thereof, and a sub-arm 111 is rotatably supported. The leading end of the sub-arm 111 is slidably engaged with a sub-arm pin 112 provided at the side of the sub-chassis 104. The main arm 106 and sub-arm 111 are rotatably engaged with each other about an arm coupling pin 113, and an up-spring 114 is stretched between them, so that the cassette holder 107 is always thrust to move in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 19.
As shown in Fig. 16, Fig. 18, and Fig. 20, a light emitter 115 is disposed at a specified position on the sub-chassis 104, and the light 116 divided into two directions from the light emitter 115 as indicated by twin dot chain line passes through the tape in the cassette 102 and a slot 110a in the sub-arm 111, and reaches a photo detector 117 provided at the side of the sub-chassis 104. Depending on whether this light 116 reaches the photo detector 117 or not, the tape starting or ending position can be detected.
Further, a lock rod 119 is slidably provided on a guide pin 118 formed at the side of the sub-chassis 104, and it is thrust in the direction of arrow C in Fig. 19 by a lock spring 120. A lock pin 121 set up on the lock rod 119 is provided at a position to be engaged with a lock engaging portion 107a formed in the cassette holder 107, and the cassette holder 107 is designed to have a slight play after locking so as to be movable somewhat in the direction of arrow B, so that the lock pin 121 can securely contact with the stopping portion 107b of the engaging portion 107a.
In addition, as shown in Fig. 19 or Fig. 20, a contact type recognition switch (MIC-SW) 122 is provided at a position to be engaged with the ID board 102a at the back side of the cassette 102. To insulate all but a contact terminal 122a, the housing 122b for holding the contact terminal 122a is generally made of a resin material. The contact terminal 122a is made of an elastic conductive material, and the resistance value of the ID board 102a can be read by applying a specified pressure.
In thus constituted conventional magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, the operation is described below.
In Fig. 19, when the cassette 102 is put into the cassette holder 107 in the direction of arrow C, and the outer panel 109 is pressed in the direction of arrow B, the cassette holder 107 is lowered as being guided by the main arm 106 and sub-arm 111. When the lock engaging portion 107a of the cassette holder 107 contacts with the lock pin 121, the lock rod 119 slides in the direction of arrow D, and the moment the lock engaging portion 107a passes the lock pin 121, the lock rod 119 returns to the position shown in Fig. 20 by the thrusting force of the lock spring 120.
After locking the cassette holder 107, when the outer panel 109 is pressed in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 20, the cassette holder 107 is pushed by means of the play mentioned above, but when released from the hand, it stops still at the position shown in Fig. 20 by the restoring force of the up-spring 114. On the other hand, when the cassette holder 107 descends, the optical path from the light emitter 115 to the photo detector 117 is temporarily shut off by the sub-arm 111, but at the end of descending, the optical path is formed as shown in Fig. 16 and Fig. 20. Thereafter, the sub-chassis 104 mounting the cassette holder 107 is guided by the sub-chassis guide pin 103, and is moved to the rotary head cylinder 101 side, so that the tape can be recorded or reproduced.
The conventional constitution, however, had the following three problems.
(1) Since the moving trajectory of the sub-arm intersects with the photo detector, the photo detector must be placed at the outside of the sub-arm, that is, at the opposite side to the cassette regarding the sub-arm. Therefore, it is restricted in minimizing the width of the mechanism, and the entire apparatus cannot be reduced in size much smaller.
(2) The MIC-SW is made of a resin material in order to assure its own rigidity and the reliability of operation, and hence a certain thickness is required, but this thickness becomes a dominant factor for determining the depth of the mechanism, and hence it is limited in reducing the depth of the mechanism. If an ultra-thin MIC-SW is made, the verticality of the MIC-SW to the chassis is not assured, and fluctuations of contact pressure of the contact terminal with the ID board increase, and the reliability of operation becomes inferior.
(3) Since the outer panel and the cassette holder are composed integrally, the external force acting on the outer panel directly propagates to the internal mechanism through the cassette holder. Therefore, in the case of the camera-VCR integrated unit, since the user directly touches the outer panel when operating, the apparatus or the cassette may be distorted or deformed, and the reliability may be spoiled, and the quality of the product may be lowered.
The invention is intended to solve these problems of the prior art, and it is hence an object thereof to present a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus suited to reduction in size and high in operation reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the problems of the prior art, the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus of the invention is characterized by a constitution in which the moving trajectory of the sub-arm due to vertical move of the holder when loading or unloading the cassette does not intersect with the photo detector, and the wall thickness of the cassette judging means (MIC-SW) is thin, protecting means for gripping is provided, and external force acting on the outer panel is prevented from being applied directly to the cassette holder.
In such constitution, the width and/or depth dimension of the mechanism can be reduced, and the cassette and the internal mechanism are not distorted or deformed due to external force when operating, so that a highly reliable magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus may be realized.
More specifically, the invention as set forth in claim 1 relates to a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a chassis, cassette holding means for holding a cassette incorporating a tape, moving means composed of a pair of mutually rotatably supported arms, for moving reciprocally the cassette holding means between a first position for attaching or detaching the cassette by the cassette holding means, and a second position for placing the cassette in the chassis, detecting means including a detecting member provided adjacently to the side of the cassette, for detecting the starting or ending position of the tape, and a guide pin provided in the detecting member at the chassis side, in which while the cassette holding means is moving reciprocally between the first position and the second position, one of the pair of arms moves at the opposite side of chassis with respect to the detecting member, and the other one is guided by the guide pin and moves at the chassis side with respect to the detecting member, and therefore, in such constitution, since the pair of arms move without intersecting with the detecting member for driving the cassette holding means, the width of the mechanism can be reduced to a limit.
The invention as set forth in claim 2 relates to a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a chassis, cassette judging means fixed to the chassis and engaged with the back side of a cassette, for judging the type of the cassette, and protective means provided in the chassis for gripping the cassette judging means, and in the invention as set forth in claim 3, relating to the invention as set forth in claim 2, the protective means is a metal plate member having a pi-shaped protective portion for gripping the upper end of the cassette judging means, and therefore, in such constitution, since the cassette judging means is supported as being fixed by both chassis and protective means, the depth of the mechanism can be reduced while maintaining the reliability of the cassette judging means.
The invention as set forth in claim 4 relates to a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a main chassis on which a rotary head cylinder is mounted, and also having a cam portion, a sub-chassis movable reciprocally between an unloading position for drawing out a tape from a cassette, and a loading position capable of recording or reproducing by the rotary head cylinder, a cassette holder movable reciprocally between an installing position for placing the cassette in the sub-chassis and a cassette attaching and detaching position, and stopping means engaged with the cam portion of the main chassis, and holding at a releasing position for allowing the reciprocal motion of the cassette holder between the installing position and the cassette attaching and detaching position when the sub-chassis is at the unloading position, and holding at a lock position for holding the cassette holder on the sub-chassis when the sub-chassis is at the loading position, and in the invention as set forth in claim 5, relating to the invention as set forth in claim 4, the stopping means is provided rotatably on the sub-chassis, and its one end is engaged with the cam portion of the main chassis, or in the invention as set forth in claim 6, relating to the invention as set forth in claim 4 or 5, the cam portion of the main chassis is composed of a cam face in the longitudinal direction parallel to the moving direction of the sub-chassis, and a concave face.
In such constitution, when the sub-chassis is at the first position, the stopping means holds a position for allowing the motion of the cassette holding means, and when the sub-chassis is at the second position, the stopping means holds the cassette holding means on the sub-chassis which is the second chassis, and also clears the engagement between the moving means and the cassette holding means. That is, if the user touches directly the outer panel when operating, its external force does not propagate to the internal mechanism, and the apparatus or cassette is not distorted or deformed, so that a camera-VCR integrated unit of high reliability and high quality is realized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a chassis constitution in an unload position of a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in an embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 2 is a magnified plan view of essential parts of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a chassis constitution in a loading completed position of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 4 is a plan view showing cassette holder moving means provided in an outer casing of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 5 is a left side view in a cassette attaching and detaching position of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 6 is a left side view showing the cassette positioned on the sub-chassis in an unload position of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 7 is a right side view in a cassette attaching and detaching position of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 8 is a right side view showing the cassette positioned on the sub-chassis in an unload position of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 9 is a right side view showing operation of a clamper which is stopping means of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 10 is a right side view showing operation of a clamper which is stopping means of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 11 is a right side view showing operation of a clamper which is stopping means of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 12 is a right side view showing ascending and descending motion of a cassette holder of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 13 is a right side view showing ascending and descending motion of a cassette holder of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 14 is a right side view showing ascending and descending motion of a cassette holder of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 15 is a magnified plan view of MIC-SW of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 16 is a plan view of a conventional magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in an unload position,
Fig. 17 is a magnified plan view of essential parts of Fig. 16,
Fig. 18 is a plan view in a loading completed position of the conventional magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus,
Fig. 19 is a right side view of Fig. 16 in a cassette attaching and detaching position of the conventional magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus,
Fig. 20 is a right side view of Fig. 16 of cassette in a tape loading position of the conventional magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus,
Fig. 21 is a right side view of Fig. 18, and
Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a DVC cassette.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the invention is described below while referring to Fig. 1 though Fig. 15.
Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a chassis constitution in an unload position of a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a magnified plan view of essential parts of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a chassis constitution in a loading completed position, Fig. 4 is a plan view showing cassette holder moving means provided in an outer casing, Fig. 5 is a left side view in a cassette attaching and detaching position, Fig. 6 is a left side view showing the cassette positioned on the sub-chassis in an unload position , Fig. 7 is a right side view in a cassette attaching and detaching position, Fig. 8 is a right side view showing the cassette positioned on the sub-chassis in an unload position, Fig. 9 to Fig. 11 are right side views showing operation of a clamper which is stopping means, Fig. 12 to Fig. 14 are right side views showing ascending and descending motion of a cassette holder, and Fig. 15 is a magnified plan view of MIC-SW.
First is described the cassette holder moving means provided in an outer casing 1. In Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, a rotary shaft 4 is set up on a left out-stand 2 and a right out-stand 3 fixed on the outer casing 1, and an out-holder 5 is rotatably provided around the rotary shaft 4. An up-spring 6 is stretched between the out-holder 5 and the left out-stand 2, and the out-holder 5 is always thrust in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 5, while stoppers 7 are formed on the left out-stand 2 and right out-stand 3, respectively in order to define the out-holder 5 so as not to rotate further from the position shown in Fig. 5 in the counterclockwise direction.
Also as shown in Fig. 5, a lock plate 9 is slidably provided on a lock plate guide pin 8 set up on the left out-stand 2, and it is always thrust in the direction of arrow C by means of a lock plate spring 10 stretched between it and the left out-stand 2. A lock plate pin 11 is set up on the lock plate 9, and the lock plate pin 11 is designed to contact with a cam face 5a formed in the out-holder 5. The cam face 5a has a concentric arc shape centered on the rotary shaft 4a. An out-holder pin 12 is set up at the leading end of the out-holder 5, and is engaged with a lock portion 9b having a slant 9a formed on the lock plate 9.
It is designed to unlock the out-holder 5 by sliding the lock plate 9 in the direction of arrow D by a loading motor (not shown).
On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 4, the out-holder 5 is provided with drive units 15 at right and left sides for moving reciprocally a cassette holder 13 described later by engaging with a holder shaft 14 projecting from both sides of the cassette holder 13. As shown in Fig. 5 to Fig. 7, the drive unit 15 is composed of a fixing portion 16 fixed to the side of the out-holder 5, and a plate spring 17 having a fixed end at the back side of the out-holder 5 and a free end contacting with the fixing portion 16.
Therefore, the plate spring 17 is designed to deflect from the state shown in Fig. 5 in the counterclockwise direction. Further, the left out-stand 2 is provided with a down-detection SW 18 for turning on or off by engaging with the leading end 9c of the lock plate 9. As shown in Fig. 6, the out-holder 5 rotates in the clockwise direction, the lock plate 9 slides in the direction of arrow C, the out-holder pin 12 is engaged with the lock portion 9b, and by the leading end 9c of the lock plate 9, when the down-detection SW 18 is changed from OFF state to ON state, the loading motor (not shown) is put in operation, thereby loading the tape and moving a sub-chassis 19 described below.
The other constitution than the cassette holder moving means is described below.
In Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, a rotary head cylinder 21 is mounted on a main chassis 20 to exchange signals with the tape incorporated in the cassette 102. The sub-chassis 19 is slidably mounted on a sub-chassis guide pin 22 set up on the main chassis 20, and a cassette height determining pin 23 and a cassette holder height determining pin 24 for determining the allowable descending position of the cassette holder 13 for holding the cassette 102 are set up on the sub-chassis 19. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 7, a main arm 26 is provided rotatably about a main arm shaft 25 formed on the sub-chassis 19, and its one end is slidably engaged with a main arm pin 27 provided at the side of the cassette holder 13.
A sub-arm 29 is provided rotatably about a sub-arm shaft 28 set up on the side of the cassette holder 13, and its one end is slidably engaged with a sub-arm pin 30 at the side of the sub-chassis 19. The cassette holder 13 is designed to be defined in the position when ascending and descending by means of both main arm 26 and sub-arm 29. The sub-arm pin 30 is positioned between a photo detector 31 described below and the sub-chassis 19.
Therefore, as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 12 to Fig. 14, the main arm 26 and sub-arm 29 are designed to move at positions not intersecting with the photo detector 31 all the time in the plane including the photo detector 31. The main arm 26 and sub-arm 29 are rotatably engaged with each other about an arm coupling pin 32. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 7, the plane of the main arm 26 including a slot 26a is identical with the moving plane of the sub-arm 29, and the dimension in direction A in Fig. 2 is designed to be a minimum limit.
In the cassette holder 13, a cassette pressing spring 33 is incorporated for pressing the cassette 102 against the cassette height determining pin 24, and the cassette 102 is always thrust in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 7. Further, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 7, a lid opener 35 is provided rotatably about a lid opener shaft 34 set up at the right side of the sub-chassis 19, and the lid opener 35 is always thrust in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 7 by a lid opener spring 36, and a lid opening pin 37 projecting from the leading end of the lid opener 35 is engaged with a front lid 102b of the cassette 102, so that the front lid 102b may be released to the maximum angle.
On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 7, a light emitter 38 is provided at a specified position on the sub-chassis 19, and the light 39 divided into two directions from the light emitter 38 as indicated by twin dot chain line passes through the tape (not shown) in the cassette 102, and reaches the photo detector 31 fixed through sensor holders 40 provided at both ends of the sub-chassis 19. The functions of the light emitter 38 and photo detector 31 are same as in the prior art, but what is different is, as shown in Fig. 2, that the photo detector 31 is disposed at a further inner side of the apparatus, as compared with the prior art, that is, at the position closer to the side of the cassette 102.
Moreover, a clamper 42 is rotatably provided on a clamper shaft 41 installed at the side of the sub-chassis 19. As shown in Fig. 7 through Fig. 11, a clamper pin 43 is set up at one end of the clamper 42 extended downward through the sub-chassis 19, and it is designed to be always engaged with the outer circumference 44 of the main chassis 20 formed in a cam shape including a groove.
On the other hand, a hook portion 42a provided at other end of the clamper 42 has a concentric arc shape centered on the clamper shaft 41, and is engaged with a holder clamp pin 45 provided at the side of the cassette holder 13.
In addition, as shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 15, a thin type MIC-SW 46 having a terminal 46b is provided at a position engaged with an ID board 102a at the back side of a cassette 102, and it is fastened to the sub-chassis 19 with a screw 47. The leading end 46a of the MIC-SW 46 is gripped by a back plate 48 having a pi-shaped cover 48a. Herein, in order that the back side of the cassette 102 may not be caught by the leading end of the pi-shape when raising or lowering the cassette 102, the leading end 46a of the MIC-SW 46 is thinner than other parts.
Further, since the back plate 48 is fastened to the side of the sub-chassis 19 with a screw 49, the MIC-SW 46 is supported at both ends by the screw 47 and cover 48a.
The main arm 26, main arm pin 27, sub-arm 29, sub-arm shaft 28, holder shaft 14, and holder clamp pin 45 are disposed at both sides of the cassette holder 13, and also the main arm shaft 25, sub-arm pin 30, and clamper 42 are disposed at both sides of the sub-chassis 19, and further the shape of the outer circumference 44 of the main chassis 20 is symmetrical on both right and left sides in Fig. 1. When the cassette holder 13 is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 8, the force of the plate spring 17 of the out-holder 5 pressing the cassette holder 13 is set sufficiently larger than the force of the cassette pressing spring 33 pressing the cassette 102, and when the sub-chassis 19 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 11, it is designed so that the holder shaft 14 and the plate spring 17 are completely spaced from each other.
Thus, in the invention, the lock mechanism is provided at the side of the out-holder 5 which is the cassette holder moving means.
In thus constituted magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, the operation is described below.
First, the descending action of the cassette holder 13 is described.
In Fig. 5, when the out-holder 5 is pushed in the direction of arrow B by resisting the thrusting force of the up-spring 6, the cassette holder 13 begins to descend as its holder shaft 14 is guided by the fixing portion 16 at first, and then descends further as being pressed by the plate spring 17. Cooperating with this action of the cassette holder 13, the main arm 26 and sub-arm 29 reach up to the position shown in Fig. 14 from the state shown in Fig. 7 through the state shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13. In the process of this action, the sub-arm 29 moves while passing through the photo detector 31 and sub-chassis 19. In Fig. 7, the cassette 102 in the cassette holder 13 is engaged with the terminal 46b of the MIC-SW 46 without being caught by the cover 48a of the back plate 48 in the midst of descending. Turning attention to the front face of the cassette 102, a front lid 102b is engaged with the lid opening pin 37, and is released to the maximum angle by the thrusting force of the lid opener spring 36.
At the left side, on the other hand, as shown in Fig. 5, although the lock plate 9 is stopped still at the left out-stand 2 while its lock plate pin 11 is engaged with the cam face 5a of the out-holder 5, when the out-holder pin 12 begins to be engaged with the slope 9a of the lock plate 9, it gradually slides in the direction of arrow D by resisting the thrusting force of the lock plate spring 10. Afterwards, as shown in Fig. 6, by the thrusting force of the lock plate spring 10, the out-holder 5 is locked by the lock plate pin 11 of the lock plate 9, and the down-detection SW 18 is changed from OFF state to ON state. At the position shown in Fig. 6, the cassette holder 13 is simultaneously receiving the force in the direction of arrow A by the cassette pressing spring 33 through the cassette 102 and the force in the direction of arrow B by the plate spring 17 of the out-holder 5, but since the latter force is set larger than the former as mentioned above, the cassette holder 13 remains in contact with the cassette holder height determining pin 24. The cassette 102 is contacting with the cassette height determining pin 23 at its bottom by the thrusting force of the cassette pressing spring 33.
The loading operation by moving of the sub-chassis 19 is described below. When the down-detection SW 18 is turned on, the loading motor (not shown) is operated, and the sub-chassis 19 begins to move in the direction of arrow C. Then, as shown in Fig. 9, the clamper 42 on the sub-chassis 19 rotates in the clockwise direction in Fig. 9 by engagement between the cam face formed on the outer circumference 44 of the main chassis 20 and the clamper pin 43, and the hook 42a is engaged with the holder clamp pin 45 at the side of the cassette holder 13. In Fig. 9, the cassette holder 13 is held in the state pressed to the cassette holder height determining pin 24 by means of the plate spring 17, and the cassette 102 is pressing to the cassette height determining pin 23 by means of the cassette pressing spring 33. Consequently, when the sub-chassis 19 is further moved, as shown in Fig. 10, the clamper 42 holds a standstill state to the sub-chassis 19, while the holder shaft 14 of the cassette holder 13 begins to depart from the plate spring 17 of the out-holder 5. Therefore, the cassette holder 13 receives only the reaction in the direction of arrow A by the cassette pressing spring 33 through the cassette 102, and maintains the contacting state of the hook 42a of the clamper 42 and the holder clamp pin 45. By this reaction, the bottom of the cassette holder 13 is departed from the cassette holder height determining pin 24. However, by the cassette pressing spring 33, the cassette 102 is held in the state pressed to the cassette height determining pin 23. When the sub-chassis 19 further moves, as shown in Fig. 11, the plate spring 17 of the out-holder 5 and the holder shaft 14 of the cassette holder 13 are further apart from each other, and the cassette holder 13 and the out-holder 5 are completely separated. On the other hand, the cassette 102 holds the state being pressed to the cassette height determining pin 23 by means of the cassette pressing spring 33.
To the contrary, when taking out the cassette 102 out of the apparatus by unloading, the operation is in the reverse procedure of the operation mentioned above. First, by the loading motor (not shown), the sub-chassis 19 moves in the direction D in Fig. 11. The cassette holder 13 is gradually pressurized by the plate spring 17 of the out-holder 5, and the bottom of the cassette holder 13 contacts with the cassette holder height determining pin 24. Then, when the moving of the sub-chassis 19 is complete up to the position shown in Fig. 8, the clamper 42 rotates in the counterclockwise direction engaging the clamper pin 43 with the outer circumference 44 of the main chassis 20, and clears the engagement with the holder clamp pin 45. Therefore, the cassette holder 13 is set in a waiting state to be movable to the cassette attaching and detaching position. On the other hand, at the left side, the lock plate 9 is driven in the direction of arrow D in Fig. 6 by the loading motor (not shown), and the moment the lock portion 9b is spaced from the out-holder pin 12, the out-holder 5 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 6 by the thrusting force of the up-spring 6. In cooperation with this action of the out-holder 5, the cassette holder 13 is guided and raised by its holder shaft 14 to the plate spring 17 and fixing portion 16, and the out-holder 5 abuts against either stopper 7 of the left out-stand 2 or right out-stand 3, thereby finishing the moving action.
The operation while the cassette 102 is not put in the cassette holder 13 is same as the operation mentioned above except that the cassette holder 13 is free from the reaction of the cassette pressing spring 33, and its description is omitted.
Thus, according to the embodiment, when the cassette holding means is moving reciprocally between the cassette attaching and detaching position and the chassis installing position, one of the pair of arms for driving the cassette holding means moves at the opposite side of the chassis to the detecting member, and the other is guided by the guide pin and moves at the chassis side to the detecting member, and therefore the pair of arms can drive the cassette holding means by moving without intersecting with the detecting member in the plane including the detecting member, so that the width of the mechanism can be reduced.
Moreover, comprising the cassette judging means fixed to the chassis and the protective means for gripping the cassette judging means, if the cassette judging means is thinner than in the prior art, the operation reliability is assured, and the depth of the mechanism can be reduced.
Further, in the constitution comprising the main chassis having the cam portion, the sub-chassis movable reciprocally between the unloading position for drawing out the tape from the cassette, and the loading position capable of recording or reproducing by die rotary head cylinder, the cassette holder movable reciprocally between the installing position for placing the cassette in the sub-chassis and the cassette attaching and detaching position, and the stopping means engaged with the cam portion of the main chassis, and holding at the releasing position for allowing the reciprocal motion of the cassette holder between the installing position and the cassette attaching and detaching position when the sub-chassis is at the unloading position, and holding at the lock position for holding the cassette holder on the sub-chassis when the sub-chassis is at the loading position, since the external force acting on .the outer casing when recording or reproducing does not propagate to the internal mechanism, distortion or deformation does not occur, so that the apparatus of high reliability is presented.
In the embodiment, the MIC-SW is used as the cassette judging means, but other switch may be similarly used as far as having the function of engaging with the cassette case such as wrong erasing preventive switch.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Accordingly, the invention comprises a chassis, cassette holding means for holding a cassette incorporating a tape, moving means composed of a pair of mutually rotatably supported arms, for moving reciprocally the cassette holding means between a first position for attaching or detaching the cassette by the cassette holding means, and a second position for placing the cassette in the chassis, detecting means including a detecting member provided adjacently to the side of the cassette, for detecting the starting or ending position of the tape, and a guide pin provided in the detecting member at the chassis side, in which while the cassette holding means is moving reciprocally between the first position and the second position, one of the pair of arms moves at the opposite side of chassis with respect to the detecting member, and the other one is guided by the guide pin and moves at the chassis side with respect to the detecting member, and therefore the pair of arms move without intersecting with the detecting member within the plane including the detecting member and can drive the cassette holding means, so that the degree of freedom of designing of the mechanism is expanded, simultaneously contributing to downsizing of the mechanism, in particular, a substantial reduction of the width of the mechanism, and ultimately the entire apparatus can be reduced in size.
The invention also comprises a chassis, cassette judging means fixed to the chassis and engaged with the back side of a cassette, for judging the type of the cassette, and protective means provided in the chassis for gripping the cassette judging means, and therefore since the cassette judging means is fixed and supported by both chassis and protective means, if the cassette judging means is thinner, than in the prior art, the operation reliability is assured, and it contributes to downsizing of the apparatus, in particular, reduction of depth dimension of the mechanism substantially, so that the entire apparatus can be reduced in size.
The invention moreover comprises a main chassis on which a rotary head cylinder is mounted, and also having a cam portion, a sub-chassis movable reciprocally between an unloading position for drawing out a tape from a cassette, and a loading position capable of recording or reproducing by the rotary head cylinder, a cassette holder movable reciprocally between an installing position for placing the cassette in the sub-chassis and a cassette attaching and detaching position, and stopping means engaged with the cam portion of the main chassis, and holding at a releasing position for allowing the reciprocal motion of the cassette holder between the installing position and the cassette attaching and detaching position when the sub-chassis is at the unloading position, and holding at a lock position for holding the cassette holder on the sub-chassis when the sub-chassis is at the loading position, and therefore since the external force acting on the outer casing when recording or reproducing does not propagate to the internal mechanism through the cassette holding means, it is free from distortion, deformation or malfunction, and the apparatus of high reliability is presented.
Still more, the cassette holding means can be locked and unlocked securely by making use of both the external shape of the chassis and the relative moving operation of the sub-chassis to the chassis, and thrusting means by spring or the like is not required for locking as needed in the prior art, and therefore an extremely inexpensive apparatus of high cost performance is presented, and its practical effects are outstanding.

Reference Numerals

1: Outer casing
2: Left out-stand
3: Right out-stand
4: Rotary shaft
5: Out-holder
5a: Cam face
6: Up-spring
7: Stopper
8: Lock plate guide pin
9: Lock plate
9a: Slant
9b: Lock portion
9c: Leading end
10: Lock plate spring
11: Lock plate pin
12: Out-holder pin
13: Cassette holder
14: Holder shaft
15: Drive unit
16: Fixing portion
17: Plate spring
18: Down-detection SW
19: Sub-chassis
20: Main chassis
21: Rotary head cylinder
22: Sub-chassis guide pin
23: Cassette height determining pin
24: Cassette holder height determining pin
25: Main arm shaft
26: Main arm
27: Main arm pin
28: Sub-arm shaft
29: Sub-arm
30: Sub-arm pin
31: Photo detector
32: Arm coupling pin
33: Cassette pressing spring
34: Lid opener shaft
35: Lid opener
36: Lid opener spring
37: Lid opening pin
38: Light emitter
39: Light
40: Sensor holder
41: Clamper shaft
42: Clamper
42a: Hook
43: Clamper pin
44: Outer circumference of main chassis 20
45: Holder clamp pin
46: MIC-SW
46a: Leading end of MIC-SW 46
46b: Terminal
47: Screw
48: Back plate
48a: Cover
49: Screw
100: Main chassis
101: Rotary head cylinder
102: Cassette
102a: ID board
103: Sub-chassis guide pin
104: Sub-chassis
105: Main arm shaft
106: Main arm
107: Cassette holder
107a: Lock engaging portion
107b: Stopping portion
108: Main arm pin.
109: Outer panel
110: Sub-arm shaft
110a: Slot
111: Sub-arm
112: Sub-arm pin
113: Arm coupling pin
114: Up-spring
115: Light emitter
116: Light
117: Photo detector
118: Guide pin
119: Lock rod
120: Lock spring
121: Lock pin
122: Contact type recognition switch
122a: Contact terminal
122b: Housing

Claims

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

a chassis,

cassette holding means for holding a cassette incorporating a tape,

moving means composed of a pair of mutually rotatably supported arms, for moving reciprocally said cassette holding means between a first position for attaching or detaching said cassette by said cassette holding means, and a second position for placing said cassette in said chassis,

detecting means including a detecting member provided adjacently to the side of said cassette, for detecting the starting or ending position of said tape, and

a guide pin provided in said detecting member at said chassis side,
wherein while said cassette holding means is moving reciprocally between said first position and said second position, one of said pair of arms moves at the opposite side of chassis with respect to said detecting member, and the other one is guided by said guide pin and moves at said chassis side with respect to said detecting member.
A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

a chassis,

cassette judging means fixed to said chassis and engaged with the back side of a cassette, for judging the type of said cassette, and

protective means provided in said chassis for gripping said cassette judging means.
A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 2, wherein said protective means is a metal plate member having a pi-shaped protective portion for gripping the upper end of said cassette judging means.
A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

a main chassis on which a rotary head cylinder is mounted, and also having a cam portion,

a sub-chassis movable reciprocally between an unloading position for drawing out a tape from a cassette, and a loading position capable of recording or reproducing by said rotary head cylinder,

a cassette holder movable reciprocally between an installing position for placing said cassette in said sub-chassis and a cassette attaching and detaching position, and

stopping means engaged with the cam portion of said main chassis, and holding at a releasing position for allowing the reciprocal motion of said cassette holder between said installing position and said cassette attaching and detaching position when said sub-chassis is at said unloading position, and holding at a lock position for holding said cassette holder on said sub-chassis when said sub-chassis is at said loading position.
A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the stopping means is provided rotatably on the sub-chassis, and its one end is engaged with the cam portion of the main chassis.
A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus of claim 4 or 5, wherein the cam portion of the main chassis is composed of a cam face in the longitudinal direction parallel to the moving direction of the sub-chassis, and a concave face.